The Administration strongly opposes H.R. 512, which would prohibit the use
of funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to establish new
refuges unless Congress passes a specific law authorizing the creation of
the refuge. If H.R. 512 were to be presented to the President in its
current form, the Secretary of the Interior would recommend that the
President veto the bill.

Congress currently approves, through annual appropriations, all
acquisitions financed by the Fund. H.R. 512 would add an additional layer
of congressional approval, thereby making it more difficult to acquire much
needed refuge lands in a timely manner.